Study Questions for Metaphysics



Study Questions for Metaphysics (Selections)

Study questions by Dr. Jan Garrett

Last revised on November 11, 2012

Book I, Chapter 1 (starts at RAGP 796)

1. What reasons does A. have for his claim that all humans naturally desire to know? (1.1.980a21-25)

2. Aristotle compares various kinds of animals from those least like humans to those most similar to humans. Explain the role of sense-perception, memory, intelligence, learning. (a27-b26)

3. What is the relationship between memory and experience; between experience and craft (technê)? (980b27-981a17)

4. What is more useful in practice, experience without craft or craft without experience? Explain. (981a17-24)

5. Why do we attribute knowledge and wisdom more to craftsmen than to persons of experience? (981a25-981b7)

6. What is the general mark by which those who know are distinguished from those who do not? (b7-10)

7. What kind of "knowledge" do we acquire immediately from the senses? Do we consider such "knowledge" wisdom? (b11-14)

8. What four common beliefs about wisdom does Aristotle cite? (982a4-20)

9. What science meets this description? (982b8-10) In what sense is this the only free science? (b11-28)

10. How is this science divine? (983a4-11) Is it sinful pride to seek such science? (982b32-983a3)

Book IV (starts at RAGP 809)

11. General metaphysics studies being _______. (1.1003a21)

12. Chapter 2 develops the notion of multiple predications which are neither [merely?] homonymous nor synonymous but somehow in between. What is it and how does Aristotle's example of health illustrate it? (2.1003a34-b1)

13. With reference to what are beings (whatever is) so-called? (1003b5-11; cf. also Metaphysics 7.1.1028a10-30) How does A. use this claim to argue that there is a superscience for all ontological questions? (b11-21)

Book VII (starts at RAGP 815)

13A. In what three senses is substance primary [relative to the other categories]? (7.1.1028a33-34). See note 32 for important information, which follows a revised Greek text.

14. To what four main objects is the word "substance" applied? (3.1028b34ff)

15. Why does Aristotle reject the claim that substance is matter? (3.1029a26-28)

16. To what primarily do essence and definition pertain? (4.1030a27-b6)

17. Of what two kinds of substance does Aristotle speak at 15.1039b20ff?

Which can be destroyed, which not? Of which is there definition and knowledge?

18. In chapter 17, substance in the primary sense can be predicated of something. Of what is substance predicable? What has changed since Categories?

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